FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.12

तस्मादहं विगतविक्लव ईश्वरस्य सर्वात्मना महि गृणामि यथा मनीषम् । नीचोऽजया गुणविसर्गमनुप्रविष्ट: पूयेत येन हि पुमाननुवर्णितेन ॥ १२ ॥
tasmād ahaṁ vigata-viklava īśvarasya
[tasmaad aham vigata-viklava eeshvarasya]
sarvātmanā mahi gṛṇāmi yathā manīṣam
[sarvaatmanaa mahi grinaami yathaa maneesham]
nīco ’jayā guṇa-visargam anupraviṣṭaḥ
[neecho ’jayaa guna-visargam anupravishtah]
pūyeta yena hi pumān anuvarṇitena
[pooyeta yena hi pumaan anuvarnitena]
Word-for-word
tasmāt — therefore aham — I vigata-viklavaḥ — having given up contemplation of being unfit īśvarasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead sarva-ātmanā — in full surrender mahi — glory gṛṇāmi — I shall chant or describe yathā manīṣam — according to my intelligence nīcaḥ — although lowborn (my father being a great demon, devoid of all good qualities) ajayā — because of ignorance guṇa-visargam — the material world (wherein the living entity takes birth according to the contamination of the modes of nature) anupraviṣṭaḥ — entered into pūyeta — may be purified yena — by which (the glory of the Lord) hi — indeed pumān — a person anuvarṇitena — being chanted or recited.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmād ahaṁ vigata-viklava īśvarasya
tasmāt
therefore
aham
I
vigata-viklavaḥ
having given up contemplation of being unfit
īśvarasya
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
sarvātmanā mahi gṛṇāmi yathā manīṣam
sarva-ātmanā
in full surrender
mahi
glory
gṛṇāmi
I shall chant or describe
yathā manīṣam
according to my intelligence
nīcaḥ
although lowborn (my father being a great demon, devoid of all good qualities)
ajayā
because of ignorance
nīco ’jayā guṇa-visargam anupraviṣṭaḥ
guṇa-visargam
the material world (wherein the living entity takes birth according to the contamination of the modes of nature)
anupraviṣṭaḥ
entered into
pūyeta yena hi pumān anuvarṇitena
pūyeta
may be purified
yena
by which (the glory of the Lord)
hi
indeed
pumān
a person
anuvarṇitena
being chanted or recited.
Therefore, although I was born in a demoniac family, I may without a doubt offer prayers to the Lord with full endeavor, as far as my intelligence allows. Anyone who has been forced by ignorance to enter the material world may be purified of material life if he offers prayers to the Lord and hears the Lord’s glories.
Purport

It is clearly understood that a devotee does not need to be born in a very high family, to be rich, to be aristocratic or to be very beautiful. None of these qualifications will engage one in devotional service. With devotion one should feel, “God is great, and I am very small. Therefore my duty is to offer my prayers to the Lord.” Only on this basis can one understand and render service to the Lord. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) :

bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśate tad-anantaram

“One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.” Thus Prahlāda Mahārāja decided to offer his best prayers to the Lord, without consideration of his material position.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
My confusion is gone. Though low-born, I will glorify the Lord with my entire endeavor, as far as my intelligence allows. By this glorification, a person who has entered saṁsāra by ignorance can purify himself. Since you are pleased by bhakti, and not by good birth or wealth, and since respecting you is beneficial for me, I will praise your glories, though I am low-born. By describing your glories a person who has entered the torment of saṁsāra can purify himself and then liberate himself.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Therefore even one born in a demonic family may offer prayers; ignorance is not a permanent disqualification. Anyone forced into material life can be purified by offering prayers and hearing the Lord's glories. Begin where you are.
Reflection Questions
  • Where are you treating your background as a permanent verdict instead of a starting line?
  • What single act of prayer or hearing could you begin from your current 'demonic family' situation?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 9